WARWICKSHIRE batsman Michael Powell has been warned to expect no selectorial favours during the 2008 season just because it is his benefit year.

And that is exactly the way former captain Powell wants it. Because, after two years on the fringes, he wants to nail a regular first-team place back down on merit - for next season and beyond.

Any beneficiary wants to play as much 1st XI cricket as possible.

But 32-year-old Powell, who played just four championship matches in 2007, is quite happy with the challenge of proving himself all over again.

"I have been told I have as good a chance as everyone else," Powell said.

"But only if I am in A1 shape, physically and mentally. In selection terms me having a benefit is totally irrelevant.

"That's why I have put in more hours in the gym and on my batting this winter than ever before.

"My fitness levels are getting back where they should be, which I admit they were not for the last couple of years. I want my career to last another two or three years yet so it's really important for me to play first-team cricket.

"When the season starts on April 16, I don't want to be watching. More than ever before, I want to be out there playing for Warwickshire.

"Fingers crossed I will earn my place. If not I will work as hard as I can to get in, as I have done over the years."

Powell is itching to reboot his career after barely getting a look in during Mark Greatbatch's two-year regime as director of cricket.

He shares the widely-felt sense of optimism triggered by the appointment of former Bears players Ashley Giles and Allan Donald at the helm to replace the sacked Greatbatch.

"The last couple of years have been tough for everybody but we now have some fantastic people running the club," Powell said. "I want to be part of what's going to happen here.

"It feels like when I was 18 or 19 because there are top people around here, people who have made the history of this place.

"We could not have better people in charge at Warwickshire.

"They care deeply about the club, and have played in every possible situation against the best teams in the world at the highest level. And they want to transfer all that knowledge into successful coaching and management careers.

"Throw in that they are very good communicators and love talking cricket and all the ingredients are there.

"We all know things didn't work out under Mark Greatbatch for whatever reasons. Certainly I didn't figure in his plans.

"Late last season he sat down with me and, fair play, was honest with me.

"He said 'I'm fighting hard for you to get a benefit because I think you deserve that - but I'm not going to play you, simple as that.'

"That was pretty tough. When you are talking about the thing you have done all your life at a place you love so much, if that door gets shut in your face, you think 'what's the point of carrying on?'

"But it's very different now. In the space of a six weeks training I have had 20 one-to-one batting sessions with Ashley. I had one in two years with Mark.

"Now I know that if I play good enough cricket, I will get a chance. It's the same for everybody and that's all anybody can ask."